16

“When I flip you off, run. I’ve just told you how many seconds you have left to live.”

—Maddox, keeper of Violence

RAGE MIXED WITH possessiveness and lust, heating Baden from head to toe. Steaming him. He closed in on Katarina at last, dropped to his knees and cupped hers, spreading her legs with a single push. She watched him, wide eyes sparkling, but she didn’t protest as he moved between her thighs. Her breath caught as he leaned in, flattening his palms on the coffee table to cage her with his strength.

“What are you doing?” she asked softly. Tremors rocked her sweet little body.

Behind her, sunlight streamed through an oversize oval window, illuminating the dust motes dancing between them.

She was married. A fact he liked less and less. She had used him. At the moment, he didn’t care. He wanted to mark her. Had to prove she belonged to him, and only to him.

“Your loyalty is to me,” he said. As he inhaled, she exhaled; as she inhaled, he exhaled; they were breathing each other’s breaths. “You need me to survive in this world. To protect you and our dogs.”

“I soooo don’t need—”

“Oh, but you do.” He slowly dragged his tongue between the seam of her lips. Liiiick. Tasting her sweetness, savoring it.

She gasped his name, jerking as if hit by a bolt of white-lightning. “I’m not doing this. Not with you.”

“You are. You want more, krásavica, so let me give you more.”

“You don’t like me anymore.”

“I don’t think you like me anymore, either. Does it really matter?” He still burned for her. “I want you.”

She leaned toward him, melting, only to catch herself. She cursed his name and plucked at the collar of his shirt. “You’re too old for me. Way too old.”

“Age didn’t bother you earlier, when you were grinding on my thighs.” As she sputtered for a response, he added, “You’re too weak for me, but I got over it.”

“I’m not too— You know what? It doesn’t matter. You were a temporary distraction then and you’re a temporary distraction now. Despite our unsuitability, you can still give me an orgasm. One I deserve after putting up with you.”

He knew they were temporary, but her blasé attitude was far from appreciated. However, admonishing her would have been counterproductive to his goal: getting her into his arms, achieving the ultimate satisfaction.

She tangled her fingers in his hair. “No grimace or hiss? Someone is making progress. And it’s me!”

He loved the way she moved her lips. His mind in a fog of dizzying desire, he couldn’t process her words. “Meaning?”

“Meaning I think I can desensitize you. Now. You better give me the pleasure you promised me before I change my mind about this.”

There would be no changing her mind. He scowled even as he traced his tongue over her lips. This time, her tongue emerged to greet him. Flames of arousal spread through him, a blistering wildfire that couldn’t be stopped. There was pain, but it didn’t compare to his need.

The beast protested. She’s our betrayer. She means to harm...means to...

She moaned, as if she was delighted by his taste the way he was delighted with hers. Mint and whipped cream. Clean, rich and decadent. Addictive. She’s dessert.

I—want—more.

More. Yes. Baden ate at her lips as he anchored her arms behind her back, forcing her spine to arch and her breasts to smash into his chest.

“Keep your hands like this,” he commanded. To ease his pain, yes, but also to keep her vulnerable and unable to act against him while he was distracted.

“I will...as long as you make it worth my while.”

The rasp of her voice awoke an urge he’d never known—take and give everything.

Her breasts rubbed against him and, despite the shirt he wore, the friction was both a pain and an ever-increasing pleasure. He’d never held such a bounty of femininity.

Will have her. Finally.

He wasn’t sure whether the thoughts originated in his mind or the beast’s, wasn’t even sure it mattered anymore. The tether to his control slipped. He deepened the kiss, ravaging her mouth; his tongue plunged in and out, thrusting against hers in a mimic of sex. She released a chorus of delicious moans—sounds of surrender—and he swallowed every single one.

Mine! Pin her fully—take everything!

He fought the desires. He would be gentle, or he would leave. When he leaned back far enough to cup and knead her breasts, she followed him, softening against him.

“I made it clear I’m only using you for an orgasm, yes?” She panted the slightest bit. “As soon as I get it, I’ll be done with you.”

A denial nearly burst free, but he forced a laugh instead. “Maybe I’ll take my own orgasm and leave you desperate. Or make you beg for yours.”

She winced and gave him a pitying look. “As if I’d care. This gold digger would simply turn to someone else.”

There was no stopping his denial this time. “I’ll kill any man foolish enough to touch what belongs to me.” He dove in for another kiss, needing to halt the conversation—needing her. A brutal clash of lips, tongue and teeth, and in that moment, he lived for her. All of her. Only her.

“Wait. I need better access to you.” She gave him a push then stared at his chest, as if willing his shirt to burn away. “Help me stand.”

She’d broken his command, but he obeyed her without protest, straightening and drawing her to her feet; the kiss never paused. She backed him into a chair. When he fell into a sitting position, she climbed onto his lap and straddled him. A power play, putting her on top. Only an illusion of control. No matter the position, he would always possess the power—and he would prove it.

He gripped her hips and ground her core against his throbbing erection, setting a frenzied pace, driving them both to the edge of madness. Want what’s mine...need...now. On their date, she’d been the one to speed things up, and he’d been the one to slow everything down. Now, this moment, he couldn’t move fast enough.

More! Give me!

“Feels so good, pekný.” She took him by the wrists and moved his hands to the arms of the chair. A recliner. “But today there’s no reason to hurry.” She bit his lower lip, drawing it through her teeth. With another push, she changed the angle of his body, forcing him to lie back. Then, oh then, she began to rub against him of her own accord, slow, so agonizingly slow. “You can enjoy me while you’ve got me.”